Standardized Tests

Standardized Test Measuring One’s Abilities

Standardized tests, such as the SAT and the ACT and many more exams are given out to measure a student's “educational level”, but does it really? I strongly disagree that it measures how smart an individual is, instead it only measures how good of a test taker they are. In addition these tests are also used to give schools their rankings on how well the students and teachers are doing.

The school systems would make preparations for these exams and tests. The school agenda is to prepare the teachers to teach the material that will be on the standardized tests. These tests that are given out to categorize if a student is considered as an “intelligent”. I do not think intelligence can be measured with a long exams and wordy questions and numbers. Yes, it does prove one thing that the student is good at memorization and is a great test taker, but will this skill actually help you in the real world if you want to be an artist?

SAT scores based on family income Source: Washington Post

There is a common saying where one can be book smart, but not street smart. In this case the saying fits perfectly, being able to score a 1500 or higher will rank you as an average to advance student or should we call it “intelligent”. Test scores are also tied to the financial income of an individual. If the individual is in the higher class they can afford SAT prep while the lower classes do not have the money for these unnecessary classes. So, the higher class individuals have an advantage over the lower class individuals. According to Zwick, "Thirty-two percent of students from a high socio-economic background earned a score of 1100 or greater on the SAT, while only 9 percent of students from a low socio-economic status achieved the same score,"  

Based on CollegeBoard, the scores of the class of 2013 was 1498 and this is not a high or low score it evens out, due to a spike of high and low scores, but the lower scores drag down the average.  speaking, can you really use these test taking skills in the real world? If you were to want to pursue a dancing career would you use the material you were taught to ace the exams to dance? I highly doubt the exam questions would appear during a dance recital. If a person wanted to be a doctor would they use the SAT questions to diagnose the patient?

In my opinion some people are great test takers, but there are also people who are just as intelligent in different aspects, but when it comes to test taking they get nervous and forget the material and fumble during the testing period. These standardized tests are sometimes used as a college acceptance and job employments. The Georgia Political Review made a claim about the correlation between performance and SAT scores, they stated that "While there may be academic support for the argument that cognitive ability can predict job performance, the evidence linking high SAT scores to workplace success is lacking."

These standardized test can not accurately measure how smart a person is. There are people who learn better when they are given more time to actually get the material down rather than study and memorize the answers in order to get a high score on the exams or tests. It’s not just colleges that look at these test scores some employers judge their applicants because of their score. These employers are discriminating their applicants based on a test they took when they were only 17, a person's brain is constantly growing and obtaining more knowledge each day. They will be applying for jobs at the age of 22, their minds have matured so their high school scores do not give a good representation of their knowledge and skills.

Some employers turn away the lower score individuals not knowing they might excel in other ways. Some people have social skills that are not taught from books but acquired by personal experiences. If this person is put into a business company, he or she may be a great member and tool towards their company, but due to the scores if they get dismissed by that the employer can not see the full potential of the individual.

Standardized test are a horrible and inaccurate ways to measure a person’s future and

potential abilities. Instead of judging one harshly on their scores employers should be more open

minded. For institutions or companies they should provide other alternatives, such as tests that are

based on the job description/position.

Cyberbullying and Social Media

As an adolescent it is necessary to responsibly manage internet use in order to avoid bullying one another. Technology has transformed the way we communicate in society. Today’s society has improved the speed and efficiency to communicate with one another yet it has created its own negative consequences. Cyberbullying has become a major problem in today’s society with regard to young adults.

Many young adults have tendency to ignore the powerful impact of language usage in communication. Especially it is very important to be adolescents become aware of the fact that words have an influence to manipulate feelings and damage self-esteem. As an adolescent it is necessary to responsibly manage internet use in order to avoid bullying one another.

Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, have drastically changed the way we share information online and learn about one another, predominantly in the past five years. Facebook, the leader of these social networking sites, has grown immensely worldwide and  become the largest social networking site. These social networking sites have changed the way people communicate by enabling people across the globe to stay connected and exchange information more rapidly than earlier communication methods.

Today’s social media allows for a great way to communicate, it also can bring conflict between people by making it easy to cyber bully.  The effect of social media, especially on the psychological makeup and social skills of the youth, is where more investigation needs to be done. Social media gives the youth the false impression that the can post anything about their peers, which leads to  Violent behavior, substance use, and other self-consciousness. When people take to the keyboard or cell phone and craft messages of hate or malice about a specific person, cyber bullying is emerging. And unlike traditional bullying, it comes with a wide audience.

You can pass around a note to classmates making fun of a peer, and it stays in the room. But when you post that same note online, thousands can see it. The whole world becomes witness and is invited to participate. The web allows people to verbally attack each other and leave it out there for people to see and participate.

Cyberbullying became the use of information technology to harm and harass other people. This can be done verbally or by posting humiliating  images of others, which can affect their feelings. First, cyber bullying is intentional, deliberate behavior carried out repeatedly over time. Second, the target of cyberbullying experiences real, nontrivial pain (psychologically, emotionally, or relationally). Third, what distinguishes cyberbullying from traditional bullying is that the former is carried out using various electronic devices.

In short, cyberbullying involves using communication technology to harass, intimidate, threaten, or otherwise harm others. Common forms of cyberbullying include sending threatening text messages, posting libelous or malicious messages on social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook, or uploading unflattering or humiliating pictures or videos to the  Internet without permission. Cyberbullying has become a problem to the point where it is happening repeatedly.

Our  technological invention has improved so much about our lives, however, we need to keep in mind the ‘dark side’ of it as well. In other words, parents, schools and organizations need to get involved in guide youths in how to manage internet use. Even though laws are being created to fight it, there still needs to be people who will manage the safety of internet.

Fast-food Workers' Strike

A Nationwide Strike for a Reasonable Wage

Many fast food workers and supporters
went out on the streets protest.
Picture by Chris Houck

Fast-food workers in the, unhappier than ever, are on strike demanding major fast-food companies to pay a $15-an-hour minimum wage and to be able to unionize without retaliation.

Not too long ago, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour was last increased in July 2009. Meanwhile, California's minimum wage was raised to $8 per hour in January 2008, and in July of 2014, the minimum wage increased to $9 per hour. Yet, rent and other expenses are rapidly increasing all over the country. Thus leading to the increase in poverty since a  minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, about $15,000 annually earned by fast food employees is beyond unacceptable and inhumane.

Infographic source: Economic Policy Institute

Current research shows that 16.7 percent of restaurant workers are living below the poverty line which is more than double the percentage for those who are working outside the industry. For this reason full time fast-food workers have to struggle by working extensive hours to earn a misery of wage.

Rosa Rivera, a current McDonald’s employee, claimed that she received the minimum wage and was owed $408 from her bosses in allowances for uniform maintenance. “I came to this country for a better life,” said Rivera. “I never imagined it would be like this.” Other current employees have had their wages docked to make up cash register shortfalls, and that they were made to work unpaid before and after their shifts.

Raising the minimum wage for fast food workers to a $15-an-hour minimum wage will make up the unreasonable wage these workers have earned for years. In addition, forming a union will have the opportunity to modify working wages, promote workplace health and safety, support proper work hours, offer benefits, and deal with job training and other work-related issues.

Non-supporters of fast-food workers
question the workers' demands for a $15 wage

Some Americans disagree with the wage increase for this particular group of people because they think that it’s crazy to get paid $15 per hour for just "flipping patties". 

By: Animation cels, Prints and Original Art

This is not Spongebob working at the Krusty Krab restaurant under the sea, this is a real life issue that affects the people who struggle on a daily basis to bring food to their table. Unfortunately, these workers have no other option but to continue working at these places and undergo devastating working conditions, even when they are sick, and deal with the lack of benefits.

We must put ourselves on their place and analyze the working conditions that are tolerated by the fast food companies. Its not fair that these people are working long shifts that are very exhausting and gives poor pay. Workers, no matter where they work, who they are or where they come from must have a right to a living wage and the right form a union.

It is reasonable that these workers are demanding a better pay and to be able to form unions. We must support these workers because these billion dollar industry earns their fortune at the expense of these workers. Some say that if this workers are unhappy with their earning then they better look elsewhere, however, there are many undocumented workers who do not have this option due to the lack of a social security number. It may be true that these corporations can replace workers who are disobedient. However, the demand of a better pay will continue until all the demands are met.

The companies must not ignore the demonstrations that are happening all over the country. Now we need to make this call more significant by boycotting the products of these companies. Additionally, we can show support by attending the demonstrations, or simply by sharing your concerns in the social media so that more people are aware of the struggle that is happening in our neighborhoods. We might not work at a fast food restaurant but we sure know someone that does like your neighbor, co-worker, friend,girlfriend/boyfriend, and even a parent. So why not join the movement for a better America?

iPads are the New Lego

iPads are the New Lego

Image from Huffington Post

In 2011, kids under the age of 8 spent, on average, about five minutes per day on phones or tablets. In 2013, the number tripled to 15 minutes.  The over use of technology is having a negative effect on our children and as they get older multimedia can jeopardize their security.  Where should parents draw the line?

In today's society iPads, tables, and smartphones has become the next big thing and so far the Daly Mail has shined light on a story of a four year old in Britain who is the youngest iPad addict. The four year old is one of many that show compulsive behavior with technology and in her case experiences withdrawals symptoms if she doesn't have access to her iPad.  


 Studies have shown that children who have access to media devices score significantly lower when it came to reading facial emotions or other nonverbal cues than children that are not exposed to media devices. Allowing children to over use mobile devices is taking away the ability to feel sad when someone else is sad or have an emotional reaction to certain scenarios. Are we taking away children’s essential human capability? Along with this, physicians have also linked obesity, low self-esteem and uneven sleeping habits to the over use of technology amongst children. 


However, we can't blame children for the overuse of technology, children are being born in an era where technology is thriving and where multimedia devices are everywhere. Eight year olds don’t seem to fully understand the meaning of the word "moderation" and is difficult for children not get sucked in into the use of technology, this is where parents should step in. 

Statistics from Common Sense Media.org

Nonetheless, not just children but adults are being hypnotized with smartphones and fancy technology. Parents are unconsciously using technology around their children. The problem lays here; Children imitate their surroundings as well as they imitate the media. A five year old sees their parents use a phone and their human instinct is to mimic those actions. Soon we have five year olds swiping the television screen thinking that it is an iPad. Parents need to be aware of how and when they use technology around their kids, it can have a large influence on their children’s habits and decisions.

A toddler thinking a television is an iPad is just the beginning of the problem. Soon a 10 year old might say, what is the big deal, mom has a Facebook why can’t I? Cyber bulling has been reported, 10 per cent of 10 to 11 year olds and 17 per cent of 12 to 13 year olds have reported they felt threatened by someone on the Internet. The web can be a dangerous place to browse and children are not yet capable of what to do when presented certain images or in certain conversations.

Technology is something that we can not avoided and eventually that is what our world will come to. True, however, parents should monitor their own technology usage in front of children and should encourage their kids to spend less time on their smartphones. This will not only plumage the cyber bulling numbers but we will have healthier children for our future.